Overview

The Souris has it's origins near Weyburn, Saskatchewan. What we in Manitoba see of the Souris is only the final 1/4 of it's length. (See Map below...) As a canoe route it can be divided into two sections. From the Manitoba / North Dakota border to Souris the stream is gentle with wide meanders as it snakes it's way through rolling hills. From Souris to the spot near Treesbank where it empties into the Assiniboine, it can be quite fast in the spring and numerous rapids make it an interesting trip.

When LaVerendrye learned of the river in 1738 he christened it the "The River of the West" believing that it flowed in that direction. When he placed it on his maps as such, he may have been relying on misinformation from others, or he may have sighted it only briefly near the 'Souris Bend' area where it does double back and appear to head west. Traders who followed him renamed it the Mouse River, then the Souris River.

Another famous explorer, David Thompson also traveled along the Souris in the winter of 1797-98, as did Alexander Henry Jr. in the summer of 1806. Relevant portions of their diaries are reprinted in "Souris River Posts" by G.A. Moran a former editor of the Souris Plaindealer.For the camping enthusiast, suitable campsites are easy to find.